(left to right: dry-hopped pilsner lager, Belgium tripel ale, bourbon barrel-aged scotch ale)
I started brewing my own beer a little over a year ago and I’ve been amazed at the quality of beer that a homebrew kit can produce. I brew 5 gallon batches of beers that range from bourbon-barrel-aged scotch ales to pilsner lagers. Six of my seven batches were excellent. As you can imagine, this hobby makes ordering beer on airplanes a disappointing experience.
I recently received good news though–airlines will start carrying a wider selection of microbrews. According to USA Today, the following microbrews will be offered on flights (you can also click on the name of each airline to view each airline’s food/beverage webpage):
- American: Samuel Adams
- Alaska: Alaskan Free Ride Pale Ale (leaving soon), Alaskan Icy Bay IPA (coming soon), and Alaskan Amber. Alaska carries other beers on specific flights (e.g., Hawaiian beer on flights to Hawaii).
- Delta: offers vary by region but it’s an impressive offering which includes Sculpin India Pale Ale.
- Frontier: New Belgium Fat Tire, New Belgium Amber Ale, and Oskar Blues Pinner IPA (coming soon)
- Hawaiian: Maui Brewing Company Bikini Blonde Lager
- JetBlue: Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Harpoon Brewery UFO White, and Brooklyn Brewery Summer Ale
- Southwest: New Belgium Fat Tire and Leinenkugel (rotating)
- United: Goose Island IPA and Samuel Adams Winter Lager (seasonal)
- Virgin America: 21st Amendment, Anchor Steam, and Samuel Adams
While the price of beer on planes may still be higher than what you’d pay on the ground ($6-$9), some credit cards offer in-flight purchase discounts. I use the Citi AAdvantage card which provides a 25% discount on in-flight purchases on American ($4.50-$6.75).